Cultural Differences in Avatars between US and Taiwan

I ran across this study looking at how avatars are presented in different media cultures. The US, it seems, likes its women more revealing and aggressive; while Taiwan has more androgynous male avatars in gaming. Interesting report here.

"This analysis revealed a sex bias that male avatars outnumber female avatars, whether in U.S. or Taiwan MMORPGs. In addition, body revelation seemed to be a female “privilege” without cultural difference. Notably, female avatars in U.S. MMORPGs incline to have the shape, cleavage breasts and abdomen barer than female avatars in Taiwan MMORPGs do. Furthermore, female avatars in U.S. MMORPGs are more aggressive than in Taiwan’s. With regard to male androgyny, male avatars in Taiwan MMORPGs look far more androgynous than U.S. male avatars do. 65% of male avatars are apparently androgynous (i.e., more than 60% degree androgyny according to our definition) in Taiwan MMORPGs, whereas almost none of the male avatars are androgynous in U.S. MMORPGs."